//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18 Dream's End and Beginning 
// Story: Hole Hearted 
// by Akashic Brony 
//------------------------------//

	He hung his head low. Chrysalis finished her work.
There was a faint voice. “Den don’t, you could never live with the guilt. It would destroy you.”
Den rushed to brace her so that she did not topple. “Echo,” Den stammered, “I didn’t know what I would do if you hadn’t gotten up.”
The smaller Changeling stood up shakily. 
“Daughter, don’t you dare defy me, not now.”
Echo coughed. “I’m not just going to lie there listening to your lies.”
“Lies?” Chrysalis sneered.
“You say you were ruled by responsibility, but that is a lie. You may have taken the burden but it was not yours to take. You could have told your subjects the truth.”
“Am I wrong? See how you fell from that truth. You might have overcome me if you had not known.”
“That may be true, but I got back up.” said Echo. She paused as she coughed out blood. “Changelings and ponies are imperfect creatures, but for failing we shouldn’t be blamed. We are only damned if we don’t get back up.”
“Idealistic rubbish.” Chrysalis then calmed herself she spoke pleadingly. “Darling daughter, why must we fight? In the past I was distant to prepare you for the cold reality of the world, however I was always watching. My heart soared and sunk at your tiny successes and failures. The affection I withheld then, I would let flow freely. We could be a family. I could bring your father back.”
Echo spat. “Bringing Amorpheus back, what would he say about your actions?! You’re killing our people in addition to everypony!”
Chrysalis was nonplussed. A disturbing grin appeared on her face. “Killing? I call it relief. Life is suffering.”
Echo recoiled. “You’ve gone insane with grief! The power has utterly corrupted you! …I am sorry, mother; your madness must end…” Her horned sparked. “Feel fear, you can neither define or defend!”
A familiar dread filled their air. Chrysalis shrieked. She formed a shield as the black tunnel washed over her.  
“That attack is a direct copy of your father’s.” Den remarked.
“My father’s attack won’t delay her long. Den, kiss me, I need a spark to light the fire!”
“Take as much as you need.” Den kissed her and felt warmth leave him. He gasped for air as their lips left.
“Thank you.” Echo stood on her own strength now.
In hellish green flame the tunnel of darkness evaporated. The Queen emerged intact from the attack. Chrysalis’s eyes burned with rage. “How dare you use his attack against me!? You should know existential dread, only works on those who fear death!”
Den coughed. “You should be afraid. Before we stepped into this chamber, instead of trying to find a way around your shield I had our soldiers mark this area… for cannon bombardment!”
Both Echo and Chrysalis swiveled their heads towards Den. “What?!”
Den jumped towards Echo pushing her down along with him.

Fifteen minutes prior… The heavens in disarray, a ship floated outlined by the light of the sun and moon. Below the earth pulsated with tentacles made of malignant energy.
“We’re humped! We are so humped!” Soarin repeated, jittering.
Spitfire slapped her lieutenant. “We’re Wonderbolts, the elite! Get a grip!”
Blue showed her hoof. “We don’t have fingers. Ain’t that a Griffin expression?”
Spitfire noticed Captain Blueberry was unmoving still. “Why are you so calm about this?”
A small stream of salty water was flowing down her face. “In private, Den discussed this with me. It was our deepest fear… the capital assault team has failed.”
“What?”
“Set a course for Canterlot.”
The helms-pony gulped. “We’ll be moving into the field of the leech life spell.”
“At the last moment possible, I want dem controls locked.  Tell da gun crews to fire the before we’re in.”
“What’s your plan?”
Blue grinned like a mad mare. “We’re the only ship within range and we’re the da only one that’s got enough blastin’ powder to take out two Canterlots.”

In present time… A tight cluster of booms resounded before, rupturing through the ceiling of the council chamber, came cannon shots. The wooden benches where the leaders and shakers of Equestria sat where reduced to splinters. The tiles of the floor were ripped apart by the impact the shots. Chrysalis screamed as she was buried underneath the collapsing ceiling.
Echo and Den huddled next to each other, tightly. Echo hastily casted a small shield. Splinters and rock pieces peppered their shield.  
Echo shouted. “Den, what did you do?!”
“I am so sorry, I made a contingency plan with Blue… in case I wasn’t strong enough.”
“Don’t you mean we? Why didn’t you bother to tell me?”
Den sunk his head low. “Our bond is like a chain, I thought I was the weakest link.”
“No I was… I shouldn’t have succumbed to her attack.”
“We’re both weak, okay?” Den kissed Echo on the cheek lightly.

Blue held her hooves unto the steering column. As her crewmates fell, she stood with pure determination. Fatigue sapped at her strength but she only struggled harder. To her surprise, two others leaped next to her.
“We got you, kid!” Soarin and Spitfire jumped to her sides, propping her up.
They smiled at each other acknowledging. Together they clung unto the steering column.

The cannon shots gradually diminished…. Echo and Den dared finally to pop upwards to look at the devastation. The entire left wing of the council chamber was obliterated and open to the air and sky.
“That has got to have ended it.” said Echo.
Den sighed in relief as he saw the Thunderhead in the sky.
“Blueberry’s ship is getting close. We should signal Blue to divert course.” Den chuckled.
Echo shook her head. “They’ve entered Canterlot’s outskirts and into the magic field. The crew is dead.”
Den bit back tears.
“I’m so sorry, Den. Your friend Blueberry has made the ultimate sacrifice…”
“….her ship is loaded with enough explosives to kill us all. Twice!”
From the rubble of stone and wood there came a rumbling.
A piercing beam shot out from the debris. The ray seared off the left rudders of the approaching airship. Without guidance, the ship veered slightly. The mass of metal loomed over their heads. The rush of air from the ship’s passing blew dust into a massive cloud. They shielded themselves as they choked on the smoke. The roar of the engines died down as the ship heading off in the opposite horizon.
“What was that?!” asked Den.
“Maybe Husk and Arista?” suggested Echo.
As the cloud began clearing, they could see the silhouetted of an all too familiar figure and the source of the beam.  
The word left their lips slowly. “No.”
“Clever, I was caught off guard.” Chrysalis stood but only barely. Her right flank was bleeding profusely. She closed her right eye as a stream of blood leaked from her head.
Echo charged her horn. “Quickly, Den, we must—”
Chrysalis blasted her voice. “No more talk! My mercy was my weakness.” She held them in a telekinetic sheath. Using her magic she pulled her four cocoons from the debris. Channeling her magic she moved them into position.
In explosion of blinding white, their world ended.

A whistling sound, he swore he could hear it. Slowly he opened his eyes to his surroundings. There was a near infinite amount of glowing light around him. He was wrapped in the warmth of the tiny spheres. He turned to his right and found Echo standing with him. Upon her face was their shared confusion.
Echo rubbed herself on Den like a cat.
“Umm Echo, what are you doing?” said Den.
She pulled Den’s head around with her hooves, feeling his face. “This isn’t dream space; the tactile sensation is too vivid.”
Den gestured his hoof at the constellations and galaxies around them. “That’s because this is the Celestial Plane!” Den laughed with a lunatic bent.
Echo threw up her hooves, shrugging. “So what? We’re dead then?”
“How the buck should I know!?” He giggled, galloping through the field of stars.
His whimsy infected her as well. “Wait! Den?” Echo followed after as they plowed through the lights.
Dancing through the stars, they chased after one another.

Finally catching up to Den, she tackled him playfully into a bed of stars. They tussled for a while before she emerged victorious.
“Aha, I have you!” Echo pinned Den.
“So you have.”
“Um so where are we? What is the Celestial plane?”
“I’ve only read of it! It’s a place of ascension! It is said the Princesses Cadance and Twilight attained enlightenment and became Alicorns here. To gaze with mortal eyes at the splendor here is to know divinity. This is the pinnacle for all scholars and soldiers.” 
Echo swiveled her head looking at the fields of stars. “It is also said that should the corrupted set foot here they will be smote for their transgressions.” 
“You know of this place?”
“Albeit different names, the lore of many cultures speak of this place.” Echo rolled off of him and they laid in the star bed facing each other. She turned her head away. “I heard you talking with Chrysalis… you’d suffer the tortures of Tartarus for me? You would corrupt yourself?”
Den pulled her back and  kissed her. “I don’t care where I am so long as I’m with you.”
She snuggled closer to him. “About that… we both have fatalistic impulses. Could you promise me you won’t destroy yourself on my behalf? Please, I couldn’t see you do that for me.”
He smiled. “Only if you’ll promise the same.”
She bobbed her head eagerly.
“I do.” Den blushed.
Echo intoned passionately. “I do.”
“You make that sound like a wedding vow.”
A matronly voice surprised them. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The voice had a tingle of mischief. “I am legally allowed to wed you.”
“Holy Celestia!” Den blurted. “Celestia!”
Den and Echo leaped off from their bed of stars. The white Alicorn nodded.
“I am not a pony nor your subject.” said Echo meekly.
Celestia’s word were kindly. “That should not matter. I have watched you both. You hold genuine concern for each other and your intentions are good. ”  
Den spouted. “Princess, what are you doing here? Aren’t you in a coma?”
Celestia frowned. “Even weakened as I must do my duty. I walk in two worlds even if I cannot physically walk in one… This is the Celestial plane, my little pony, I am Celestia.”
“That sentiment is full of conceit and deceit. This place is called the Astral Plane. It predates even you.” From the distance emerged another... Chrysalis.
Celestia turned toward her opponent. “Regardless, I have taken it upon myself to defend it and the realms beyond. You shall not pass with your selfish wish.”
Chrysalis’ eyes burned with determination. “Grant me my heart’s desire! I have come thus far, power is my passport!”
“Your ancestor thought the same.”
“You cannot resist me.”
“I was good friends with the first Changeling Queen. We were colleagues of equal standing. I saw her fall when Chitania cursed her people by attempting to bring forth a miracle through force.”
Chrysalis smirked. “The people of your petty nation are my currency. The toll with souls I have more than enough to pay. Again, you cannot stop me.”
“I will never cease trying!” Celestia’s horn flared. “Scorpio!” From the stars, a giant scorpion of spell light formed around Celestia.
“Draco!” Chrysalis sparked her own horn. Stars of another constellation connected in the darkness to form a mighty dragon around Chrysalis.
The star creatures attacked one another. The pincers of the Scorpio locked with the claws of Draco. The tail of Scorpio stabbed at its opponent while Draco’s long neck bit at it.

The star field erupted in battle as the constellations contested. The star titans attacked with staggering force, each shaking from the blows they delivered upon each other. Echo and Den stood hesitantly at the sidelines.  
Den tugged at Echo. “We have to help.”
“How? This is a duel of demigods.”
“What do you know about your father and mother?”
Echo looked pensively off. “My mother and father, fear and despair were their signature attacks… however they were meant to be a combination move. Their attack destroyed the tyrant Queen Gossamer.”
“We need a counter spell… something greater. Your father, Amorpheus, he attacked me with fear… I overcame it because I remember I loved you more than I feared him or even your nature.”
“I overcame my mother’s despair because you were an example of hope of coexistence.”
“Hope and Love!” They both shouted together.
“I can channel it into an emotive attack. I will try to link us together. We will have our chance when Chrysalis uses it.”
Den wondered aloud. “Will it be strong enough? Will we?”
She smiled. “Have hope.”
“I love you.”

The giant of star scorpion was eroded away by a blast of the dragon’s fire. The final stab of the Scorpio punctured the star body of the Draco. Celestia and Chrysalis reappeared as their puppet bodies flickered into darkness.
“Burn with the intensity of six suns!” Celestia fired a white beam.
Chrysalis charged her own spell. “Feel the anguish of the ages! Taste the essence of pure despair!” A tunnel of pitch black was blasted towards the white Alicorn.
Celestia’s light was swiftly swallowed by the darkness. Her legs quaked as her postured gradually lowered.
Den shouted as he flew next to Celestia. “We can take it from here!”
Celestia nodded only slightly as she stumbled back.
“Now!” Echo flew in front of Celestia with Den beside her.
Instantly the tunnel of darkness shrouded them. Echo’s horn provided meager light. The terrible and terrifying visions entered their minds.
“Fight it!” Echo screamed through the darkness.
Chrysalis voice chimed in their heads. “What is this? You’ve come back for more? Your struggling is moot!”
“We won’t fall!” Den yelled.
Together words formed in Den and Echo’s minds. Changeling and pony, their voices meshed as one and spoke in harmony.

Let love light the darkness we shout!
Together our hearts are whole, one body and soul!
Let hope banish the demons of doubt!
Today and yesterdays’ sorrow shall not blacken tomorrow!

With their chant the darkness receded. The energy surged through. They were wrapped in another explosion of white that enveloped them.

Den and Echo found themselves in a space that was completely white. The featureless zone was unnervingly cold whereas the Astral plane was warm.
“Where are we now?” Den asked.
Echo shrugged. “Now are we dead?”
“Yes you could say that. You’re in between states.” Celestia spoke as her outline emerged from the white and her other colored features came into focus. “I stopped you so I could say thank you before your return.”  
Echo replied angrily. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. Some say you’re gifted with prescience. Did you engineer this entire scenario?”
“No my little pony.” Celestia frowned deeply. “Foresight is most murky.  Hardly anything comes into focus… and the devil is in the details. Nothing is concretely preordained. With foreknowledge the moment of observation changes the state of the picture. Rest assured you have free will.”
Echo nodded with satisfaction. 
“Celestia, could you come back?” asked Den. “There’s so much you could do to help post war Equestria.”
“I think I shall let my sister run things for a while. I could use a tiny vacation after a thousand years of singular rule. Her New Lunar Republic is a novel idea and I would like to see what comes.” 
“Where will you go?” asked Den. 
“This place is a nexus to many worlds… it rumored every time a writer puts pen to paper, a new one is created. I think I should like to see how thing would be if they played out differently.” Celestia smiled. “Again, Equestria and the world thanks you for your sacrifices.” The Princess’s image began to zoom out.
“Wait, there’s so many more questions!” Echo called out.
The white world disappeared with a flurry of hues. The colors rushed through their minds until black was introduced. 

Den felt a pain in his forehead. He rubbed his head with a hoof. “Awww… I’ve been ripped off. I didn’t become an alicorn.” He mused.
“Nope, still a pegasus, but mine!” Echo chirped cheerfully.
Once more, they were in the council chamber that was exposed to the open air. There was a break in the clouds where sunshine shone a spotlight on them, however the heavens were quickly closing up.
Smoldering but still standing, Chrysalis coughed. “How?”
Den stiffened up. Echo stopped him from attacking. “I sense no power from her. She’s no threat now. The magical rebound robbed her of her energy.”
“How could you defeat pure despair? You know the terrible truth…”
“Our people can transcend this. We could find a way.” said Echo.
“Foalish nympth, how dare you think that you know better than your mother…” Chrysalis spat out blood. She then chuckled. “Perhaps, daughter you do know… I remember you conquered pure despair once. I am proud.” Chrysalis smiled.   
Echo scolded. “Mother, don’t be so dramatic. I can revive you.”
“No, there cannot be two Queens. When I am dead, blame everything on me, it may spare our people hate. I care not for my name in the afterwards.” said Chrysalis
Echo shook her head. “No mom, I’m going to bring you back.” Echo fired a beam at Chrysalis. She was surprised when the magic was countered by a weak shield.
“Dear daughter, I have seen things… the boiling of oceans as dragons wage war, duels between goddesses, and I am so tired. No more, I wish to join Amorpheus in the void.” said Chrysalis. The Queen’s form was fading as light began to seep through her very outline. Her body like her wings was becoming translucent.
Tears began streaming from Echo’s face. “Mom!” She hugged the greater Changeling.
Chrysalis gasped in pleasant surprise. She gently returned the hug. “One last thing… go to the old hive’s archives… seek out our journal… we did not find a cure for our peoples’ curse however we got closer than any.”
Echo hugged her mother for the first and last time and her mother returned the gesture. She looked up and saw her mother smiling without malice or cruelty.
“Please don’t go,” Echo hugged harder.
“Dear daughter, I must.” Twinkling into nothingness Chrysalis’ form faded to a near water paint impression before it evaporated into the sunlight. The monarch crown of ebony steel clattered the ground. Echo’s hooves ended up wrapped around herself.
Den draped his hooved around Echo.  

Their eyes were distracted by a flashing signal light. It was the Thunderhead. The ship circled slowly. More ships joined it. The War Wings from the Griffin Kingdoms also flashed their signals.
“That’s horse code! Everyone is alive!”
“Yes, everyone.” Echo gave a mixed smile.
“I’m sorry.” Den dampened his enthusiasm.
“No, this is cause to celebrate,” said Echo.
“We will, my Queen.”
Echo stared at her mother’s crown. The ornament piece glowed slightly with what was left a magical aura. “I will take the crown however I don’t think I will take that title. I prefer Princess. It is the Equestrian way is it not?”
“Whatever you want.”   


	 


From the castle steps, Echo walked to the waiting hordes. Changeling officers and soldiers looked on.
“I have defeated our monarch in single combat! By the ancient rites set forth since Queen Gossamer, I am your new monarch!” cried Echo as she exerted a booming mental and physical pressure in the minds of all changelings.  
“All Hail Queen Larvi!” cried the changeling officers.
The roaring ranks cheered their new sovereign. 

Den joined Echo atop Luna’s tower.
“We had our first date here,” Den smiled.
Echo’s attentions were elsewhere. “My mother’s army; all mine.” said Echo staring at the infantry formation array below. Then she looked at all of Equestria. “It all could be mine. When my mother’s spell rebounded, I absorbed a fair bit of power. I find that much power has a voice of its own. It beckons me for more.” Echo smiled and laughed hollowly. “Den, what would you do if I were to order them to continue what my mother had started? Would you join me and conquer the world?”
“The conditions to which I would be your Captain were clear.” Den said hesitantly.
“Would you fight me then?” asked Echo. “That bag of dispel powder in your pouch: do you still keep it?”
His eyes widened. “You knew?”
“For a while.”
“There is no doubt in my mind. Not anymore.” Den drew the pouch and gestured for Echo to receive it.
She placed the powder back in his pouch. “I want you to keep it, because I love and trust you. Should I ever become corrupted beyond salvation, I want you to use that against me.”
“I fell for you a long time ago. In that situation I’d rather fall again, wings folded, from this tower.”
She scolded angrily. “You promised you wouldn’t destroy yourself!”
“Killing you would kill me... Would you really put me in that spot after all that we’ve been through?” asked Den.
“Absolutely not, I couldn’t bear the thought of you gone. I see…” She lowered her head. “But who know what the future will hold?”
“Yeah there’s a ton of things that need fixing. I am not sure about any of them. However, we can face whatever is ahead tomorrow, together.” Den stepped back taking out the bag. He undid it and let the wind carry the sparkling dust away.
“But what of my people? If I relinquish everything and they are betrayed, I will have very well destroyed them myself.”
“Then don’t relinquish everything. I rather like one or two...or three of those shiny War Wings. We’re in the best terms to negotiate whatever our people need. We don’t have to conquer the world… maybe just a small part of it. Enough for the kids to play in some the verdant fields?” Den shot her a look of uncertainty. “Right, kids?”
“Yes it’s possible for us to have them.” Echo giggled, “Oh Den, I love you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
“You’re doing that on purpose aren’t you?” smiled Den.
“I am your Echo.” she giggled.
Their silhouettes against the sun they kissed.

One year later…  a small fleet of airships, in clear blue skies, crosses a nameless sea. Aboard the flagship, Den and Echo walked through the corridors guarded with Changeling soldiers.  Echo floated a clipboard between them.
Den rolled his pen to the side of his mouth. “The New Lunar Republic has called a peace summit, they want to create something called a League of Nations.” 
Echo rolled her eyes. “A League? That sounds non-committal, why not a United Nations?”
“United that sounds a bit much, considering all the wars.” Den chuckled. “Anyway they’re not married to the name.”
She looked over the clipboard letter. She giggled. “Captain Blueberry Frost is the representing the Republic, we should prepare for an international incident.” 
“Blue’s wouldn’t be so crass… I think… I hope?” Den found an envelope sandwiched between pages in his clipboard. He took the letter out and opened the seal. “Reagle has invited us to a baby shower. Zaza has given birth to a new hippogriff girl.” 
“That’s sweet, who knew that was possible,” Echo then said wryly. “Okay, what else do they want?”
“They are asking for more military assistance. They say this nefarious Naponean character has escaped exile and marches on Prance. The United Griffin Kingdoms and Zebra Confederation have declared war.”
Echo rubbed her forehead. “It figures they’d want something.” 
“What’s a little military aid between friends?” Den suggested.
“We can lend a battalion or two of our mages if they’ll give us access to the war criminals as fodder.”
They arrived at their destination to room with wide windows. There was a large couch in the center of the room with a red carpet that led to it. Den sighed and scribbled on the clipboard. “I suppose in all wars there will be criminals. Let’s see what’s next on the agenda...” He flipped through the pages onto the next issue. Den smiled warmly. Drawn inside a heart was ‘Echo + Den’. “Oh our anniversary.” 
“Did you forget?” 
Den gritted his teeth and grinned. “No?”
She shook her head. “Males. It’s alright though we’ve been incredibly busy.” Echo plopped down unto the large couch. She sighed in relief.
Den shifted the plush red pillows and found his seat next to her. “You could have gotten a regular throne.”
“I like our couch. A throne seats only one.” Echo licked her lips. “Plus you can’t do this on a throne!” She pounced atop of Den.
“You’re entirely too cute to be harbinger and bringer of the swarm.”
Echo cooed. “You’re too soft and huggable to be my Captain Consort.”
“Consort or Captain which one came first again?” Den chuckled kissing her neck.
Their kissing was interrupted by a cough. Arista poked her head through the doorway. “Hi, I was here…. and I’ll just go somewhere…. ugh else.”
Echo leaned in and whispered in Den’s ear. “I’ll give you our anniversary present later.”  Echo straightened herself. “What is it Arista?”
Arista returned. “The Expeditionary force has returned,” said Arista.
Another Changeling entered the room. “Princess Larvi.” The Changeling bowed.
“Husk, we’re all friends here. Please call me Echo,” said Echo.
“Sorry, soldier caste habits are hard to break,” said Husk.
Den gazed at the scarred flank of the Changeling. “Did you encounter difficulty?”
Husk frowned. “The site was overrun with abominations and Quarray Eels… we lost a squad.”
“I am sorry Husk,” said Echo.
“I am glad when drawing volunteers; we drew from those without families or loved ones.”
Arista coughed when Husk mentioned loved ones. “How about you? You volunteered. Don’t you have one that loves you?”
The soldier Changeling turned toward the wingless former worker. “Arista, I…”
“Still we’re sorry for the loss.” said Den.
“Was your expedition successful?” asked Echo.
Husk bowed. “Indeed.” He floated from his satchel an old tome. “From the old hive’s archives, your father’s and mother’s journal, I hope it was worth it. None of our magic was able to reveal it secrets.”
Echo looked at the journal, her face flashed with pain. “Amorpheus and Chrysalis, my mother and father… the doorway to our future may lie in their past. I know so little of them only that they truly cared for each other.”
Den touched her hoof offering support. “We can read it together.”
She nodded. She touched the tome, green light bathed the tome, and the book opened. She gasped. “It was meant for me…”